BENTON — The Marshall County Judge Executive must fill the vacant seat of constable in District 2.

County Attorney Jeff Edwards told Fiscal Court at its meeting Thursday state law requires the position to be filled.

The seat opened when no candidates ran for it in the last election. Judge-Executive Mike Miller said no consideration was made to fill the seat as no candidates came forth with interest until late 2012 and the position has no real duties.

“Commissioner (Terry) Anderson (District 2) and I discussed the vacancy, and we were both of the opinion that the position could fill itself in the next election,” Miller said. “But it looks like the law will require us to fill the position with reasonable haste.”

District 2 residents Tom Lyons, Kenneth Collins and Barry Darnall have all requested Miller consider them to fill the empty constable’s seat.

Miller said he would consider the applications with Anderson before selecting a new constable.

The Fiscal Court also learned of a grant to Marshall County’s Department of Emergency Management.

The emergency management assistance allocation is intended to support development of emergency management in the county. Personnel salaries, office administrative support and vehicle and training and meeting support are all eligible for 50 percent reimbursement under the grant.

Miller also announced a TVA construction project to improve transmission lines in Marshall County to begin in 2014. Construction would begin in April and conclude in June.

Scott Brooks, of TVA public relations, said the work is a part of a $16.3 million plan in Marshall County. Several transmission lines and lattice towers will be replaced.

Miller said he had not heard from the TVA about plans to ban boating in the tailwaters of Kentucky Dam.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers restricted boating in the tailwaters of nearby Barkley Dam angering the Judge-Executives of Lyon and Livingston counties, who Miller said were not consulted before the closure.

The TVA would not confirm or deny any plans to restrict access around Kentucky Dam. (Related story, page C6)